I want to share a story with you. It’s a story I’ve seen play out countless times in the ER – and it’s what inspired me to find a better solution.
It was a busy Friday night in the ER, and everything was in chaos. We had a full waiting room of people, all with different needs, but all frustrated with the long waits and overwhelmed by the crowded emergency department. And there was one patient that I’ll never forget, a young mother with a simple cough. She was sitting there for hours, next to a woman who was being evaluated for chest pain, and a person who had an obvious broken bone. When I finally got to see her, I asked why she came to the ER and she just looked at me with frustrated and tired eyes and said: “I didn’t know where else to go.”
The Reality of Overcrowded Emergency Rooms
As an ER physician, I see first-hand the impact that overcrowding has on our hospitals. And I have seen firsthand the number of patients in our emergency rooms that have a non-emergent condition, but they have nowhere else to turn. They are all waiting, with the same fears, frustrations and often a lack of easy answers. The fact is, when emergency rooms are stretched to their limits, care for everyone suffers. And frankly it’s not a good solution for anyone.
The Cycle of Overuse: A System That Needs a Change
Many people go to the ER for conditions that are not true emergencies. Whether it’s a bad cold, a minor injury, or just a general feeling of being unwell, people often use the ER because they don’t have any other options. It’s time we start to look for solutions to this problem that plague our local communities. We believe we must do better!
Tap Telehealth: A Solution for Both Patients and ERs
That’s where Tap Telehealth comes in. We’re not just a healthcare service; we’re a solution that’s designed to alleviate the strain on emergency departments while also making sure patients get the care they need in a timely and convenient manner. By giving your community access to care in a place that doesn’t require them to spend hours waiting in an emergency department we are able to help create better communities. We help those who need the ER most, by providing options for those who need them least!
Reducing ER Overcrowding: A Win-Win
Here’s how Tap Telehealth helps to address the overcrowding:
- Provides a First Line of Care: By providing fast and convenient access to healthcare for your residents, we help ensure that they have another option for care when they start to have those minor symptoms that would typically lead them to an ER.
- Triage Experts: Our providers are trained in triage and have the expertise to determine when an ER visit is necessary and when other options are more appropriate.
- Guidance to Community Resources: By knowing the local resources in your community we can connect patients to local providers, clinics and other resources and not just defaulting to the ER as the only answer.
- Focus on True Emergencies: When non-emergent patients have other options for care, the ERs are able to focus on those life-threatening situations that require immediate attention.
Empowering Your Community to Take Control of Their Health
When we reduce the overuse of the ER we also empower your community to take control of their health, all with the use of their phones! This means your residents are able to get guidance, personalized recommendations, and get back to their lives much quicker than they would otherwise. They will be able to get quality medical advice and care, without spending hours in a waiting room. We help empower our clients to take care of themselves!
The Benefits of Choosing a Proactive Approach
We believe that a proactive approach to healthcare is the best approach, because it allows you to not only to address the issues as they arise but it’s also about creating a more resilient and healthier community for the future. A community where the local resources are available when people need them the most. We are creating a stronger community from the inside out!
At MD Health Pathways, we understand that healthcare is more than just individual care; it’s about helping to create a healthier, stronger, and more resilient community for all. We know that when we reduce the pressure on our local emergency departments that everyone benefits!
Ready to ease the strain on your emergency departments and empower your community? Tap into MD Health Pathways today and let’s build a healthier community, together!
